JAVIER MASCHERANO could be forced to stay at Liverpool after Inter Milan owner Massimo Moratti offered Roy Hodgson his personal assurance that they would not bid for the Argentina captain.

Inter have also called off their pursuit of Anfi eld team-mate Dirk Kuyt, as Rafa Benitez discovers the money worries he regularly signposted during his Liverpool tenure are no less biting at the San Siro. Hodgson is a close friend of

Moratti having coached Inter between 1995 and 1997, and for a brief caretaker spell in 1999, and received clarifi cation of the Champions League winners’ intentions in a telephone call.

“I spoke to Massimo Moratti on Wednesday about the fact they are not going to buy Liverpool players and Dirk

comes into that category, doesn’t he?” said Hodgson.

“I believe Inter were only interested in two of our players and they are not going to buy them. Moratti said they are not going to do that.”

Kuyt was never likely to agitate to leave the club but, having publicly stated he wants to move for family reasons, Mascherano faces an anxious wait to discover whether Barcelona will return and match Liverpool’s £25m asking price. Liverpool blocked interest from the Spaniards 12-months ago, while also making a pledge not to stand in Mascherano’s way if an acceptable offer was made this summer.

One midfielder heading out of Anfield, meanwhile, is Alberto Aquilani, who is set to return to Italy by joining Juventus on loan. Aquilani has endured a torrid time since arriving from Roma for £17m last August, with a series of injuries limiting him to just 13 starts. Hodgson is considering a bid for PSV Eindhoven left-back Carlos Salcido, 30, as he looks to solve what has become a problem position.

Meanwhile, Mario Balotelli is in line to make his home debut for Manchester City against Liverpool on Monday, with goalkeeper Joe Hart predicting he will be a hit.

Balotelli came off the bench to score the winner in City’s 1-0 Europa League win over Timisoara and Hart said: “He certainly announced himself. He has a great touch and a hell of a right foot, which is interesting to train against. I think he will smash a few goals in for us.”